Media Awards
Nature film’s equivalent to the Oscars®
The 2026 Media Awards is now open for entry! Deadline to enter is ________
The Jackson Wild Media Awards celebrate excellence and innovation in nature, science, and conservation storytelling.
[ Description on 2026 Event]
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded to the film that most effectively examines animal behavior in an innovative and illuminating way.
ECOSYSTEM
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded to the film that best examines a habitat and its unique web of life.
CONSERVATION
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded to the film that most effectively shines a light on a species or habitat in peril and efforts to protect it.
PLANET IN CRISIS
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded to the film that most effectively highlights the environmental issues of our time, such as climate change, pollution, social inequity and environmental justice.
PEOPLE & NATURE
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded to the film that best portrays our bond with nature and its ability to nurture the human soul.
LIMITED SERIES
Each episode longer than 20 minutes
Awarded to the limited series that most effectively advances a natural history theme. (special entry requirements)
FEATURE
Feature-Length (75 minutes or longer)
Awarded to the feature-length film, 75 minutes or longer in runtime, factual or narrative, that best advances an understanding or appreciation of the natural world.
INVESTIGATIVE
No Length Restriction
Honoring outstanding, in-depth reporting and powerful storytelling that expose critical truths and inspire meaningful change.
GLOBAL Stories
No Length Restriction
For excellence in wildlife, conservation, science, social or cultural storytelling from less represented geographical and cultural perspectives. Prioritizing productions led by media makers in non-Western regions including but not limited to Asia, Africa, Central and South America, the Middle East, Micronesia and Indigenous communities around the world.
Films produced in any language are encouraged to submit, English subtitles must be provided for judging.
NEW! documentary Short
Films must be under 40 minutes in length
Awarded to an exceptional short-form documentary film that demonstrates strong nonfiction storytelling, cinematic craft, and a clear creative vision within a condensed runtime.
NEW! Digital Short
Films must be under 22 minutes in length
Awarded to an outstanding short-form nonfiction work created specifically for digital platforms, online audiences, or emerging distribution formats.
STUDENT
No Length Restriction
For outstanding wildlife, environmental or natural science film produced by a student currently enrolled or no more than 2 years out of an academic program. Films created in association with a Film Lab or Fellowship program also qualify.
ONSCREEN PERSONALITY
No Length Restriction
Awarded to the host, presenter, journalist or collection of expert onscreen commentators or characters who best engage the viewer while communicating the knowledge, message, mission and spirit of a film related to our natural world.
NEW! NARRATION
No Length Restriction
This award recognizes exceptional voice narration that enhances nature-based storytelling, whose vocal performance deepens audience connection and entertainment without appearing on screen.
CONTENT CREATOR AWARD
Three samples of content
Recognizes an individual in the new media space— including social media, YouTube, and podcasts—who uses their platform to create influential content related to the natural world. Any length of content is eligible.
Submissions must include links to three samples of content and may be evaluated on both storytelling and audience engagement.
SOCIAL MEDIA
Under three minutes
Awarded to the most compelling content created for social media under three minutes that best advances an understanding or appreciation of the natural world.
BRANDED CONTENT
No Length Restriction
Recognizes films made in partnership with corporate or NGO brands that authentically integrate themes of nature, sustainability, or environmental appreciation. This award celebrates collaborations where brand alignment enables meaningful storytelling that aligns with Jackson Wild’s planet-forward ethos.
IMPACT CAMPAIGN
No Length Restriction
Jackson Wild recognizes innovative approaches to a film's active impact campaign that extend conservation beyond the screen to inspire measurable on-the-ground change through education, policy change and engagement and outreach.
Impact campaigns must have been active between June 2024 and June 2025 in order to be eligible, regardless of the film's release date.
CINEMATOGRAPHY
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded for the cinematography that most enhances the nature related film or episode of which it is a part.
Judged by the American Society of Cinematographers
EDITING
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded for the editing that most enhances the nature related film or episode of which it is a part of.
ORIGINAL MUSIC SCORE
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded for the original musical score that most enhances the natural history story of which it is a part. At least 80% of the film's score needs to be original.
WRITING
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded for the written narration that most enriches the natural history story it describes.
Entrants are required to submit a .pdf of the script.
SOUND
Long form (22 minutes or longer)
Awarded for the combined contribution of sound editing, production mixing and post-production mixing that most enhances the nature-related film or episode of which it is a part.
Judged by Television Sound Peer Group by their own criteria.
HOLLYWOOD CLIMATE SUMMIT AWARDS
Beginning in 2026, Jackson Wild is proud to partner with the Hollywood Climate Summit (HCS) to elevate climate storytelling across both unscripted and scripted formats. Jackson Wild will continue to recognize unscripted films and media focused on nature, wildlife, conservation, climate science, and environmental impact, while HCS spotlights scripted and narrative-driven climate content.
While each organization maintains its own submission process, categories, and judging, this partnership connects two complementary creative communities. Filmmakers working across formats are encouraged to explore opportunities with both platforms.
Winners from both Jackson Wild and Hollywood Climate Summit will be announced at a joint awards gala in Los Angeles in September, celebrating climate storytelling across genres and mediums.
Climate Storytelling Awards:
Narrative feature
Feature
Short
Script
Television Show (Series Drama, Series Comedy, Unscripted Series)
Video Game
Comedy Special
Social Media Creator– Jackson Wild
Digital Series
Horizon Leadership Awards:
Horizon Cultural Leaders Awards:
Actor/Writer/Director
Athlete/Musician
Corporate Leadership
Horizon Social Impact Award- campaign or nonprofit partnership
Horizon Visionary Award - Activist and frontline leaders whose stories inspire